April is National Volunteer Month, so to celebrate HandsOn Savannah, a service unit of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, celebrated with a tribute to some of the most influential volunteers in the Coastal Empire.

The 35th Annual Volunteer Recognition and Awards luncheon was held Wednesday at Savannah Station. The event, sponsored by United Way’s HandsOn Savannah, honored outstanding volunteers from various community organizations in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

Winners were selected from a field of 55 nominees from five categories: animal advocacy, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services.

“Volunteering is the foundation of the United Way,” said Gregg Schroeder, United Way president and CEO. “We couldn’t do the work we do without our volunteers. Even our board of directors is comprised of volunteers. … Everyone involved is doing it from their heart to make this community great.”

Michael Traynor, United Way’s board chairman, said this year’s volunteers logged more than 60,000 hours.

• Health and Human Services Award winner Mahogany Bowers from Blessing in a Book Bag.

Sabria, a 17-year-old senior from St. Vincent’s Academy, also was recognized for two more awards — the Critz Inc. $500 Youth Scholarship Award and the Herschel V. Jenkins Volunteer of the Year Award for service she gives to Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club.

Sabria said she plans to attend Howard University next year and was excited to receive the recognition.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “I don’t think about awards when I’m volunteering, so to be recognized is so exciting.”

Schroeder said Sabria’s accomplishments are outstanding.

“You see someone young like Sabria Jones who is a youth mentor at the Boys and Girls Club and it makes you feel good,” he said. “Everyone here is giving up so much time and effort to make their community better.”

Shirley Sessions, director of HandsOn Savannah, announced her departure from the group after 15 years. The group announced the creation of a new award, which will start next year, that will be named in her honor to recognize the volunteer administrator of the year.

“Everybody in this room are people I want to be around and people I want to be like,” Sessions said when she accepted her goodbye plaque. “I have really enjoyed working with the United Way these last 15 years.”

“We are really going to miss her,” Schroeder said.

ABOUT HANDSON SAVANNAH

HandsOn Savannah, an affiliate of the national volunteer service organization HandsOn Network, was established in 1985 as a direct service of United Way of the Coastal Empire, a volunteer-driven organization comprised of hundreds of community leaders, professionals and other volunteers which serves Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.